The
Mortgage Rate Jig
If you have been a regular subscriber of this blog, you know a common topic over the past two years has been mortgage rates.
Perhaps you have wondered about my continued dialog on "buy now as interest rates are bound to go up"
Frankly, it what common sense dictated. Though the Fed, by definition, was buying down interest rates through all the QE money flowing into bonds, everyone knew that was ending in October and that the economy has continued to improve, albeit a bit unsteady at times and not be broadly felt among all sectors(especiallya a 18.5 million were reported today as still unemployed!).
Yet, normally the expectation and then end of a major incentive would alone change the trajectory of the factor being impacted. Thus, add the improving economy pressure on credit and the normal inflows to stocks from bonds, one would expect interest rates to climb at least modestly.
But, again in Jim Belote's Weekly Mortgage Update, we see that rates have remained steady and are at one of the lowest points in history. Go Figure!!!
Read and comment!!!
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Provided to you Exclusively by Jim Belote
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For the week of Nov 17, 2014 | Vol. 12, Issue 46
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582 Lynnhaven Parkway, Suite 300
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
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 In This Issue...
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Last Week in Review: The Bond markets were closed Tuesday in honor of Veterans Day, while the rest of the week was quiet with only a handful of economic reports on the calendar.
Forecast for the Week: The Fed minutes could cause volatility. Plus, key housing reports, and is inflation still tame?
View: Check out these five tips that can help yield more productive and meaningful work relationships.
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Last Week in Review
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"Home of the brave." The Bond markets were closed on Tuesday in honor of Veterans Day, and the brave men and women who have served and sacrificed to protect and preserve our great nation. The economic calendar was quiet the rest of the week, but there are some key highlights to note.
In the labor sector, Weekly Initial Jobless Claims came in at 290,000. Claims have remained below 300,000 for nine straight weeks—a feat that has not occurred since 2000. In addition, claims are 20 percent lower than they were this time one year ago. However, all is not golden as 18.2 million Americans still say they can't find a full-time job. This is a big number, considering that we're five years into an economic recovery. While the labor sector is improving, there is still more work needed ahead.
Oil prices continue to drift lower, reaching levels not seen since October 2011. This slide lower has put extra cash in consumers' pockets just in time for the holiday shopping season, and it helped Retail Sales in October bounce back from the negative numbers seen in September. However, all-time price highs in meat, dairy and produce could tap into these savings at the pump.
Looking ahead, housing data is abundant in the coming week. And while the hot housing numbers from 2013 have cooled a bit this year, recent data suggest that the housing recovery is still intact. Existing Home Sales in September touched their highest level in a year, while New Home Sales hit a six-year high. These will be important numbers to watch as we look ahead to the housing sector, and whether its recovery continues, next year. 
The bottom line is that home loan rates remain near some of their best levels of the year, and now is a great time to consider a home purchase or refinance. Let me know if I can answer any questions at all for you or your clients.
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Forecast for the Week
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Important manufacturing, inflation and housing reports are ahead. Plus, the minutes from the Fed's latest meeting will be released.
- Look for a double dose of manufacturing news, with the Empire State Index on Monday and the Philadelphia Fed Index on Thursday.
- Two key inflation reports are ahead. The wholesale-measuring Producer Price Index will be delivered on Tuesday, followed by theConsumer Price Index on Thursday.
- Housing news is abundant this week. The NAHB Housing Market Index comes out on Tuesday, Housing Starts and Building Permits will be released Wednesday, and Existing Home Sales follows on Thursday.
- As usual, Weekly Initial Jobless Claims will also be announced on Thursday.
In addition, investors will be closely scrutinizing the minutes from the late October Federal Open Market Committee meeting. The minutes, which will be released on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. EST, will reveal details of the Fed's decision to end its latest round of Quantitative Easing. They could also give more clues as to the timing of rate hikes, which could lead to volatility in the markets.
Remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, while strong economic news normally has the opposite result. The chart below shows Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS), which are the type of Bond on which home loan rates are based.
When you see these Bond prices moving higher, it means home loan rates are improving—and when they are moving lower, home loan rates are getting worse.
To go one step further—a red "candle" means that MBS worsened during the day, while a green "candle" means MBS improved during the day. Depending on how dramatic the changes were on any given day, this can cause rate changes throughout the day, as well as on the rate sheets we start with each morning.
As you can see in the chart below, Mortgage Bonds continue to trade in a sideways pattern. Home loan rates remain near 18-month lows and I will continue to monitor them closely.
Chart: Fannie Mae 3.5% Mortgage Bond (Friday Nov 14, 2014)
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The Mortgage Market Guide View...
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5 Tips for Providing Constructive Feedback
Constructive feedback with colleagues and partners can yield more productive and meaningful work relationships. The next time something isn't quite working well in a process or on a project, consider these five steps that can help.
1. Tie to a goal
Goals unite teams and provide direction. Whether you have a shared goal with a member of your network or know a colleague's professional goal, tying feedback to that larger goal situates it in more meaningful context.
2. Ask permission
People get defensive if they are not prepared for feedback. Asking for permission puts individuals in a more open, receptive mindset.
3. Identify specific behavior
Isolating a specific behavior reinforces that constructive feedback is about a behavior and not the character or quality of the individual.
4. Offer concrete action steps
Detailed options to improve a behavior shift the conversation from the past to the future and how to best move forward.
5. Show support
End positively. Reiterate goals and values.
The following example illustrates how all five steps work together:
"Hi, John. I know we want to wrap up this project quickly, but can I mention something that could help us work more effectively?
A lot of interrelated tasks are happening at the same time. I don't know the status of your tasks unless I leave a voicemail or send an email and wait for a response.
Could we chat on the phone each day for five minutes to keep each other in the loop? Or, could we send each other an email update each day?
I appreciate the partnership we have on this project and want to make sure nothing falls through the cracks."
On a final note, emails lack non-verbal cues. Give feedback face-to-face or over the phone, so the recipient hears your voice or sees your facial expression to minimize reading into your message.
Sources: forbes.com, smallbusinesschron.com
Economic Calendar for the Week of November 17 - November 21
Date
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ET
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Economic Report
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For
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Estimate
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Actual
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Prior
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Impact
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Mon. November 17
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08:30
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Empire State Index
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Nov
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NA
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6.2
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Moderate
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Tue. November 18
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08:30
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Producer Price Index (PPI)
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Oct
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NA
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-0.1%
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Moderate
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Tue. November 18
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08:30
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Core Producer Price Index (PPI)
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Oct
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NA
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0.0%
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Moderate
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Tue. November 18
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10:00
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Housing Market Index
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Nov
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NA
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54
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Moderate
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Wed. November 19
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02:00
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FOMC Minutes
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10/29
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NA
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HIGH
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Wed. November 19
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08:30
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Building Permits
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Oct
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NA
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1031K
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Moderate
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Wed. November 19
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08:30
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Housing Starts
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Oct
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NA
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1017K
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Moderate
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Thu. November 20
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08:30
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Jobless Claims (Initial)
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11/15
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NA
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290K
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Moderate
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Thu. November 20
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08:30
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Consumer Price Index (CPI)
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Oct
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NA
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0.1%
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HIGH
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Thu. November 20
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08:30
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Core Consumer Price Index (CPI)
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Oct
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NA
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0.1%
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HIGH
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Thu. November 20
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10:00
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Existing Home Sales
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Oct
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NA
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5.17M
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Moderate
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Thu. November 20
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10:00
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Philadelphia Fed Index
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Nov
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NA
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20.7
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HIGH
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The material contained in this newsletter is provided by a third party to real estate, financial services and other professionals only for their use and the use of their clients. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, we do not make any representations as to its accuracy or completeness and as a result, there is no guarantee it is without errors.
As your mortgage professional, I am sending you the MMG WEEKLY because I am committed to keeping you updated on the economic events that impact interest rates and how they may affect you.
If you prefer to send your removal request by mail the address is:
Jim Belote
Union Mortgage Group
582 Lynnhaven Parkway, Suite 300
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
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